Beijing: China has appreciated India for urging the Dalai Lama not to engage in political activities that could hurt its ties with Beijing, as it briefed New Delhi on the Tibet situation for the second time in less than a week and sought its "continued support" on the issue.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke to his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee over phone and discussed the Tibet issue, bilateral relations and the Olympic Torch relay in New Delhi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters here.
He said Yang briefed Mukherjee on the recent situation in Tibet and sought India's continued support and understanding while being appreciative of its "right stand" on the matter.
"That is the right stand. We express appreciation for this," Liu said, when asked about Mukherjee's call to the Dalai Lama and his supporters not to engage in "any political activity, any action" that could adversely affect relations between India and China.
Mukherjee had also noted in his remarks on Tuesday that that the Nobel laureate, living in exile in India since 1959 after fleeing Tibet following a failed uprising against China, was a "respected guest" and that India would continue to offer him all hospitality.
Liu said it had been a "consistent stand" of the Indian government and noted that China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo had a "very good" telephonic conversation with his counterpart on the boundary talks when the Indian side conveyed its position in this regard.
